Wildlifeof Nepal
Chital
Deer & Chevrotains
Photo: William Stephens · CC-BY
Axis axis
Basic stats
Diet
Grazes and browses; feeds before sunrise and again from late afternoon until midnight
Habitat
Forest and grassland below about 1,100m at the northern edge of its range
Range
India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
Size
Shoulder height about 90–100cm in males, 65–75cm in females
Weight
Males 70–90kg; females 40–60kg
The chital, or spotted deer, is a moderate-sized deer. The upper parts are golden to rufous and completely covered in white spots, with a dark stripe along the spine, while the rump, throat, inner legs, ears and tail underside are white. Only males carry antlers, which have three prongs and are nearly 1m long. Males are larger than females (Wikipedia, general species account).
Its range runs from eastern Rajasthan and Gujarat to the Terai and northern West Bengal, with a northern limit in valleys below about 1,100m. Groups are loose and often split up. Chital forage before sunrise as the days cool, with a peak by early morning, and again from late afternoon until midnight. Nationally Vulnerable (Nepal National Red List 2011).
Quick answers
- What does the Chital eat?
- Grazes and browses; feeds before sunrise and again from late afternoon until midnight
- What habitat does the Chital live in?
- Forest and grassland below about 1,100m at the northern edge of its range
- Where is the Chital found?
- India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
- How big is the Chital?
- Shoulder height about 90–100cm in males, 65–75cm in females
- How much does the Chital weigh?
- Males 70–90kg; females 40–60kg